What makes that pulled pork so succulent? “It’s usually made from a real fatty kind of pork, the shoulder,” says Holly Herrington, registered dietitian at the Center for Lifestyle Medicine at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago. “You really can’t trim that off.” The hot dog has fat too, but it’s redeemed by the chili’s stomach-filling protein from the beans and fiber from the vegetables. “It will fill you up a little more, leaving you less likely to go back for seconds,” Herrington says.

They’re both served up on a bun and topped with your choice of ketchup, mustard, onions or relish. But when it comes to links, should you opt for the beefy hot dog or the sausage-filled Brat? Which is worse?

It’s more than just its name that make the bratwurst the worst. A frankfurter will yield about 150 calories and 14 grams of fat; Bratwurst comes in at about 260 calories and 21 grams of fat. The extra calories and fat come from size -- the bratwurst is a lot larger than the average frank. And, “sausages have more saturated fat than a hotdog, which is bad because it raises your cholesterol,” says Herrington.

Hamburgers are usually made from ground chuck, one of the fattiest cuts of ground beef. And once ground, it’s impossible to get that fat out of meat. But the chicken’s fat is mostly in its skin, which can easily be removed. Opt for white meat chicken over dark, Herrington says, and you’ll save some more fat and calories. You’ll also get a larger piece of meat -- the breast is bigger than a thigh or leg -- so you’ll feel fuller.

A sausage link and one 4-ounce serving of ground beef both come in at about 250 calories. Trouble is, most hamburgers are bigger than 4 ounces, says Herrington. One popular brand of pre-made patties serves up a one-third pound burger with 450 calories. A slice of cheese adds up to another 100. So opt for the sausage and peppers and go heavy on the veggies. They’re full of antioxidants, vitamins and fiber.

Most bean dips are made with cheese, which brings extra calories and saturated fat. Guacamole’s main ingredient is avocado, which is full of monounsaturated, heart-healthy fat. But beware of store-bought guacamole, which can be made mostly with sour cream. “The real problem with dips is what you’re eating it with,” says Herrington. “I’d say stay away from the dip altogether because you’re going to eat it with tortilla chips.” Chips add an extra 140 calories and 7 grams of fat per 1-ounce serving (that’s only seven chips!). If you must indulge in a little dip, use cut-up veggies to scoop your guacamole and you score a few points with the nutrition experts. Just don’t go overboard with the dipping

“With the nachos, the portion size is your problem,” says Herrington. You might eat three or four Buffalo wings, but are you really going to eat just a few nachos? Doubtfully, and the more you eat the bigger pile on of calories, fat and sodium

Go on, have a sloppy Joe, says Herrington. “What makes ribs so good and tender is all that fat,” says Herrington. A half a rack of ribs -- about seven -- delivers a whopping 1,000 calories. A sloppy Joe sandwich only yields 275-300 calories, says Herrington. “With the sloppy Joe, you’ll feel like you’re getting more of a meal,” says Herrington. “With the ribs, you won’t feel as full and satisfied, which makes it easier to just keep eating.” If you’re the sloppy Joe chef, add some extra onions, peppers and tomatoes to the mix to make it an even better choice.

The cheese in the artichoke dip sends this appetizer out of bounds, says Herrington. Two tablespoons of French onion dip brings 60 calories to your plate, whereas the same amount of artichoke dip delivers 150. “And who eats just two tablespoons?” Herrington asks. Whichever you choose, try to pair it with vegetables instead of chips to save on calories and fat.

What a way to ruin a vegetable, says Herrington. Not only are Jalapenos filled with fatty cheese, they are deep fried, which adds heart-stopping trans fat to the recipe. Opt for the seven-layer dip, but watch your portions and the number of chips you eat it with.

In general, people don’t watch their portions when eating dips, says Herrington. “Whereas with the deviled eggs, no one is going to sit there and scarf down 10 deviled eggs.” And eggs get a bad rap, but it’s overblown. They’re a great source of vitamins B and D as well as protein. “We deceive ourselves with thinking, ‘It has spinach in it; it must be healthy,’” says Herrington. “But think about the sour cream and the chips or bread you’ll eat it with.”

The Chex mix is baked, instead of fried, which saves you some fat and calories. “But that doesn’t mean you can eat the entire bag,” says Herrington. A half-cup serving of party mix has about 140 calories, so go easy.

Neither is a great choice, says Herrington, but the potato skins are essentially one layer of fat on top of another (first deep fried, then cheese, then bacon). The skins are generally larger than a pig in a blanket, so opt for a mini hot dog and you won’t sacrifice too many calories.